Attorneys Kenneth Thompson and Douglas Wigdor said people deserve to hear Strauss-Kahn “answer pointed questions about his conduct.” They note Guinean maid Nafissatou Diallo answered questions in July interviews and gave a detailed account of the May 14 encounter.

Strauss-Kahn, his wife and daughter left the rented house Saturday afternoon, carrying luggage. He didn’t say where he was going, but French media have reported he was expected to board a plane to Paris on Saturday.

Strauss-Kahn’s passport was returned to his lawyers Thursday, a person familiar with the matter said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the passport’s return, which was done privately.

On Tuesday, Appellate Court Judge Michael Obus agreed to drop the sexual assault charges against Dominique Strauss-Kahn. The former head of the International Monetary Fund then spoke out for the first time